Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-13

| k1nu OF 0lS3IpatlOn, Tor tue dead cniil
seemed hardly further from her thai
the silent Dan who was buried in hi
books, and TO face her sorrow alon
was more than she could do. Oh
dear the life that henceforward woul,
be lived apart might have been 81
happy land the tears flowed on.
Meanwhile Challoner had started 70
the railway carriage. The blindinl
snow, the flickering lantern. and tn
difficulty of picking his way made Tia,
short journey long one but his bus,
wondcrmcnts made the time pass quick
ly. For the first time in his lie JOIN
! Challoner was feeling curious. Wha
made his wife so fond of thu
part icular lockot? What did il con
tain? He was still bordering on TIA,
mystery when he reached the carria ye
Parker had been right the little
engraved locket lay open on the floor
but beside it lay something, at the sight
of which the mans heart gave a great
ihrob. A little curly head, a pair OF
sweet blue eyes, soft, uncertain voice
trying TO stammer the word "Ma-ma -
They all rose wildly before him as he
stood there with the tiny ring of silky
brown hair lying on his open palm.
And it was Madge who had cherished
the curl which his own lips had seemed
to press so much oftener than had hers
Madge, who had thought to keep the
token that he had forgotten and since
had regretted so vainlv. Well, before
they parted, he must ask her to halve
her treasure with him.
There were very tender memories
stirring within him as he plodded his
way slowly back to the station, and
when he at last reached the little room
Lis face was very gentle, albeit very
grave. eyes, 1 have it, Parker.
Thank You. If you will go into the
larger room will sit with your mis-
tress," he said in answer to the maids
anxious greeting and when he and
Madge were alone he pulled his chair
closer to hers and began gravely /:
" Here is your locket."
"Thank you," she said coldly. "I
hope it was not very difficult matter to
get to the carriage"
Challoner bit his lip. "Do you think
minded the difficulty 2" he retorted,
passionately. "Don't you know I'd
have risked my life for the sake OF
rescuing this?" He had laid the locket
on the table, but as he spoke he opened
his clenched hand, and the soft curl
glistened brightly in the freight.
Madge started violently. "You
opened it?"
mo; it had opened itself by falling
on the floor" He leaned forward and
looked at her curiously. "And You
cared to keep it, Madge ?"
"Did I-care ?"
Only three words. but the tone went
straight to her husbands heart. So
she had cared after all, and yet" You
went out again so soon," he said doubt
fully.
"And could I help that?" The girl
claspcd her hands and looked steadily
Mt him with great sorrowful eyes. "You
were always with your books and
could bear to live alone in those rooms,
where every chair that her hands had
touched, every picture that her eyes
had seen. spoke to me OF my lost dar-
ling? No; l would go to dances,
theatres, anywhere where she had
never been, and therefore could not
haunt me-"
"You might have come to me-"
"To you ?" The dreary little laugh
with which she echoed his words was
not good to hear. "You had your
work. You had never asked me to go
10 the library; you had always left me
alone"
Challoner's face had grown very white.
' Madge," he said solemnly, "God is
ny witness that if / have wronged you.
t was through mistaken love and not
through carelessness. When we-mar-
ned 1.-THE loving stress he laid upon the
word was not lost upon the girl, although
her face was turned from him1 Sarah
upon me that if l pursued a
plan l had already suggested to herand
Isked you to act as my secretary /
,hould be dealing unfairly in letting
7ou expend your youth and spirits on
ne and on my work, instead of on the
and society life which was
natural to your age"
His very anxiety was making him
peak in a stiff, unusual fashion, but
he little clasped hands moved restlessly
It his words. 81 should have loved
he work"
The murmur was too soft for the
'tbor to catch, and he went on slowly:
Eighty or wrongly, l believed her.
said TO myself: You are a poor man
nd must work hard but however great
he strain may be it must never touch
our wife. If you cannot take her out
'ourself let your cousin do so in your
tead. Let"
Don't talk like that-don't talk like
hat !" Madge lad risen to her feet,
nd the words came with an irrepressi-
lie sob. She waited full minute,
nd then added: cit makes one wish
hat things had been different al
nost."
When Challoner spoke again it was
fter long pause. "When did you
ut this curl ?"
son your birthday" said Madge |
nth an effort to speak easily. 81 |
rought her into your room, and she |
,as dressed all in white"
81 thought it was blue"
"No, John all in white, with coral
eads."
"Ah yes to be sure 1 remember.
he young rogue broke the string, and |
on were so proud of her strength that |
on wonld not have it mended," and |
halloner actually laughed at the re-
of the scene.
"You took her in your arms" went
n Madge bravely, "and kissed this
cry curl, and then you gave her back
, me, and said -"
She broke off suddenly but though
hal,oner's face was flaming as holly
; her own he went ON steadily 81
i'd God bless my wife and child,
nd spare them to me for many, many
ears
"But baby died in the autumn,
nd"
In the intense stiffness OF the little
,om John Challoner finished her sem
nee. "And you are leaving me-" he
id hoarsely. "Ah, Madge J for baby's
Ike, give me half that curl"
Her gloves were off, and as she
lently leaned forward to loosen the
TX that held the pretty hair their
ands touched. She drew back for a
o..Do,t Iool,;,., % hin, ,,;faouolp onJ 1